IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ:IXYS) an international power and IC semiconductor company, today announced that its wholly owned UK subsidiary, IXYS UK Westcode Ltd., introduced two new 2.8kV pressure contact phase control thyristors with increased power density.

The new improved designs offer up to 80% increase in average current rating over the established designs, while retaining the overall package footprint. The improvement in performance is achieved by maximising the die size and an improved package design. The new silicon dice are bonded and encapsulated in fully hermetic ceramic packages, with a novel design that have reduced thermal resistance and the dice have enhanced electrical performance.

The new 2.7 inch (69mm) die device has an average current rating of 2830A to 3165A and the package has a 2.6 inch (66mm) electrode contact diameter, with an industry standard overall diameter of 4 inches (101.5mm). These device options are within the mid-range current rating of IXYS UK’s product portfolio and have the highest ever power density offered in these footprints.

“The larger die sizes offer our customers the best performance and value for money and continue the IXYS strategy to supply products with more power and less package. Higher currents in smaller packages allow our customers to also optimise their designs to use less material and to save cost as well as reduce impact on the environment. These new devices have current ratings which allow them to replace devices in larger packages if used in conjunction with an appropriate cooling regime,” commented Frank Wakeman, IXYS UK’s Marketing and Technical Support Manager.

A potential replacement to older designs in 2.9 inch (73mm) electrode diameter package with overall diameter 4.35 inch (110.5mm), the 1.4 inch (35mm) thick package device has 10% more current rating than the larger package device and the 1 inch (26mm) thick package 24%; also, the weight is reduced by more than 30%.

The 2.7 inch (69mm) die device is available in two industry standard package thicknesses, 1 inch (26mm) and 1.4 inch (35mm), at two voltage grades. Designations are: 1 inch (26mm) thick package N3165HA260 (Vdrm/Vrrm 2600V), N3165HA280 (Vdrm/Vrrm 2800V) and 1.4 inch (35mm) thick package N2830HE260 (Vdrm/Vrrm 2600V), N2830HE280 (Vdrm/Vrrm 2800V).

Typical applications include soft starters, DC drives, and all controlled rectifier applications requiring devices in this power rating.

For data sheet please go to the IXYS UK website at www.ixysuk.com or please contact us at (email: sales@ixysuk.com) or telephone: +44 (0)1249 444524 for quotation.

About IXYS UK

Located in Chippenham, England, IXYS UK Westcode Ltd is the IXYS leading manufacturing site for very high power thyristors, SCRs and rectifiers ranging up to 6500 Volts and 15,000 Amps. IXYS UK continues to supply high technology components for a wide range of applications such as wind and solar energy, welding, AC and DC motor drives for oil, marine and water treatment facilities, uninterruptible power supplies, motor soft starters, transportation, induction heating, mining equipment and many other industrial applications.

About IXYS Corporation

Since its founding, IXYS Corporation has been developing power semiconductors and mixed signal ICs to improve power conversion efficiency, generate solar and wind power and provide efficient motor control for industrial applications. IXYS, and its subsidiary companies, offer a diversified product base that addresses worldwide needs for power control in the growing cleantech industries, renewable energy markets, telecommunications, medical devices, transportation applications, flexible displays and RF power.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including the performance, features and suitability of products for various applications, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of IXYS to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.